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My son quietly informed me and I couldn’t help but want to call that teacher and ask a few other questions before she debunked every myth I’d told my child. Think hard I know many of you have a few, especially men with beards. I ended up calling the teacher, now I ask you should teachers debunk myths to elementary students?

I called the teacher who informed me they are learning about fiction and non-fiction, what is real and what is fantasy. This made me think of all those others and I quickly asked her to do me one favor, “Please don’t tell her about…(you know who), it would ruin the holidays.” To which she responded, “I’m surprised you’d think I would do this.” Honestly I have no clue what she would say, I don’t know if she’s religious or one of those that believe in only honesty. How do I know what she will debunk now that one myth is gone?  I was also told she taught them there is no such thing as wishes or magic. 

She did inform me that our children would have to learn one day, I just hope I get to tell them and not a teacher. Now as a parent, what would you have done or how would you have responded?  A tip, always call the school to talk to the teacher, but make sure you are calm. Maybe by chatting with the teacher they will make sure not to give some of those myths up. Have you ever experienced your child finding out through a teacher?

Post from: Blisstree

Should teachers debunk myths to students?

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I always found meeting our daughter’s teachers, and sometimes our grandchildren’s when the parents couldn’t attend, informative and interesting.  Sometimes my husband and I agreed and other times we didn’t.  But it was a time to try to understand what was going on.

5 ways to benefit from a parent-teacher conference or meeting:

• Go with a positive attitude that you’ll come to an understanding.  Don’t start out with a “chip on your shoulder.”
• Plan to be a team with your child’s teacher(s) for the child’s benefit.
• Ask questions and seek answers.
• Go prepared with questions you have concerning what’s taught.  Write them down if that helps.
• Don’t put the teacher on the defensive.

How have you had good conferences with your children’s teachers?

Post from: Blisstree

Parent-Teacher Conference Time

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This type of education runs deep in my family, since my sister, brothers and I attended a one-room school, as did my parents and grandparents.  My mom and her mother were teachers in one-room schools, along with many of Mother’s cousins.  My paternal great grandmother also was a one-room schoolhouse teacher.

These schools associated with my family were located in New York State.  However, I’ve also studied those that existed in New Hampshire, where I now live. 

They fascinate me as part of my heritage and that of our country.  So I’m compiling a blog, One -Room Schooldays, with stories, memories, facts and figures.  (Visit it and comment about your experiences and heritage.)

My mom wrote her memories about her first school and how she met my dad when she moved to that town.  Some of her students remembered her as their teacher when they were adults with children and grandchildren.  I learned from their stories that she, as their teacher, made a difference in many lives.

A one-room school heritage also made a difference in the lives of many Americans.

Do you have a one-room school heritage?

Post from: Blisstree

One-Room Schools, An American Heritage

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One of my kids’ favorite toys is a big box that they can decorate as a plane or castle or car or whatever they are feeling like that day. They have way more fun with that than with the fancier more finished toys

I want to thank Mike for calling my attention to big boxes.  My grandchildren, as well as my daughter before them, have been fascinated with big boxes and all that can be done with them. My grandson, nearly 14, still makes off with the large boxes we get and creates all types of imaginary items with them.

We, as parents, grandparents, relatives and teachers, need to encourage this imaginary play and let youngsters have fun with items they can create from free and inexpensive materials.  Simply make sure they’re safe materials and that youngsters are using them in ways that aren’t harmful.

Post from: Blisstree

The Fascination of Big Boxes for Kids

The Caring for Earth and Earth Day Theme Unit offers a wide variety of resources and projects for a variety of ages and grades.  These involve reading suggestions, puzzles, research of related topics, worksheets, and much more.

Post from: Blisstree

Earth Day Projects for Tots & Teens

Entertainers, politicians, teachers, spouses, children…heck even dogs are saying things to use that we can’t hear. We all do it…out of politeness, fear, dishonesty or just plain lack of verbal skills — we disguise what we really want to say.

And don’t even get me started on how confusing it is when someone repeats something to you but had sworn to the other person they wouldn’t — so they tell it to you in code, while also camouflaging certain details?

I began to wonder what it would be like if I tried to collect a days worth of unspoken words and phrases and pulled them together into one converstion, it might go something like this:

• I won’t be home tonight, I’d rather be out drinking with my friends, who don’t tell me what to do, and I really don’t care if you have a nice day, because I actually do care if I win an Oscar and I did not call you because your kid is not that cute, your house is ugly and the bills are not in the mail and yes, that dress makes you fat and I’m doing so much better than you because it IS women’s issues and I don’t care about your vacation…what the hell were you thinking…you’re never getting promoted…
  

See what I’m saying? Oh…and woof…I don’t unconditionally love you.

Post from: Blisstree

What I Really Didn’t Mean To Say.